Labor action expected to affect major French airports as scheduling dispute escalates
A planned strike by France-based cabin crew at easyJet is expected to disrupt New Year’s Day travel across several major French airports, creating uncertainty for thousands of passengers and underscoring persistent labor tensions within the European low-cost airline sector.
The strike, scheduled for January 1, 2026, was called by UNAC, a minority union representing easyJet cabin crew in France, after compulsory annual negotiations with airline management failed to reach an agreement. The action will target flights operating through key airports including Paris Orly (ORY), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Nice (NCE), Bordeaux (BOD), Lyon (LYS), and Nantes (NTE), with early morning services expected to face the greatest risk of disruption.
Focus on French-Based Crew Operations
The walkout is focused on easyJet’s French bases and on flights that rely heavily on cabin crew stationed in France. While UNAC does not represent the majority of easyJet’s French cabin crew workforce, the strike is still expected to lead to cancellations and delays, particularly at airports where the airline maintains large operational footprints.
Early departures are seen as especially vulnerable, as crew availability during the first wave of flights is more difficult to replace on short notice. Connexion reported that these early morning services could experience the most significant operational challenges if participation levels are high.
easyJet has not yet released a revised schedule, and as of December 29, 2025, no final operational update had been issued. Passengers traveling on January 1 are being advised to monitor email notifications and the airline’s mobile app for the latest information regarding their flights.
Scheduling Practices at the Heart of the Dispute
The dispute centers on crew scheduling practices, which UNAC says have created instability for staff while also triggering operational inefficiencies for the airline. The union argues that frequent last-minute duty changes disrupt personal lives, increase fatigue, and contribute to burnout among cabin crew.
According to the union, cabin crew can experience multiple duty changes within a single day, placing pressure on staff availability and overall well-being. UNAC maintains that such practices not only affect employees but also have financial consequences for the airline, including higher sick leave usage, additional repositioning costs, and increased refunds to passengers affected by disruptions.
UNAC members voted by 64.2 percent to reject easyJet’s proposals during negotiations, leading to the decision to file the strike motion.
Impact Expected Despite Limited Union Participation
Although UNAC is a minority union, industry observers note that even limited participation can have an outsized impact during peak travel periods. New Year’s Day is typically a busy operating day for easyJet, which usually runs near-normal schedules rather than the reduced services common on Christmas Day.
This higher volume of planned flights increases the likelihood that any crew shortages will result in visible disruptions, particularly at major hubs such as Paris Orly and Nice.
However, the overall scale of disruption may be somewhat contained. The main union representing French easyJet cabin crew, SNPNC-FO, recently withdrew a planned Christmas strike after reaching a late agreement with management over similar scheduling concerns. SNPNC-FO has confirmed it will not participate in the January 1 action.
Broader Implications for the Low-Cost Airline Sector
While the strike is currently planned as a single-day action, the situation highlights ongoing tension over rostering practices in the low-cost airline sector, where tight schedules and high aircraft utilization are central to the business model.
Labor experts note that without structural changes to scheduling systems, similar disputes could re-emerge, particularly during peak travel periods when operational resilience is already stretched.
For now, easyJet passengers traveling on January 1 face a degree of uncertainty as the airline works to assess crew availability and potential contingency measures. Further updates are expected as the strike date approaches, with travelers advised to remain vigilant and flexible with their plans.
